NewsKarnataka-Madikeri
B M Lavakumar
Madikeri:The motion will be set for Mysore Dasara celebrations after offering puja goddess Chamundeshwari on Saturday October 5 morning, while at the same time it got the official motion by offering puja to goddesses of power as per the tradition at nearby the lake in Madikeri on Saturday evening.
The Dasara Utsav is being organized by the state government and government officials, while the celebrations in Madikeri are organized by the locals.It has been celebrated in grandeur every year.There is a saying, Mysore Dasara welcomes the people, while Dasara celebrations in Madikeri bids them farewell. There are reasons behind it. It’s the tradition for locals to go to Mysore to view majestic Jumbo procession and arrive in Madikeri since ages.
The Idols of four power goddesses are indeed the focal point for Dasara celebrations that is limited to colorful illumination in palace city, but the real significance is laid upon the idols of the goddesses – Kanchi Kamakshiamma, Kote Mariyamma, Dandinamariyamma and Kundurumotte Mariyamma.
There are reasons behind the practice of carrying the idols of these goddesses. According to a mythological story, about 180 years ago, plague devastated Madikeri town.The religious leaders sought the intercession of divine to find out the reason behind the spread of the disease. The divine intercession revealed that evil forces are the cause of plague that could be contained by taking a procession of idols of 4 power goddesses who are in the outskirts of the city. Since then, the practice of taking the idols of these four power goddesses in a procession came into existence.
The procession of idols has mythological significance along with religious practice, because it was believed that Parvati went to meet her brother Mahavishnu before her conquest to kill the evil monsters, when Mahavishnu presented her the weapons including Shankha, Chakra, Gadhe and Padhma. Parvati equipped with all these weapons took different avatars and was able to slaughter all the demons. Hence the practice of taking the idols of 4 power goddesses in a procession began in the city as gratitude to Mahavishnu.
However, since there was no temple dedicated to Mahavishnu in the city, the locals built a worship center in Doddapete and placed a portrait of Rama and began worshiping. Besides, the idols of 4 goddesses that were worshiped as per tradition in a lake at Madikeri on the first day of Navaratri arrive at Rama Mandir where puja offerings were performed. This is followed by procession as per religious practice across the city. It is being followed even now.
These idols are offered puja at the lake on the following day of Mahalaya Amavasye on a set time on the first day of Navaratri.The idol procession begins and official set motion for Dasara celebrations in Madikeri.
The idol procession is being held across the city for 9-days. At this time, the people regardless of faith, caste and creed welcome the idols by cleaning the way and drawing the traditional rangoli.They also offer puja on the occasion.
These idols play key role in Dasara Utsav especially in the jumbo procession. These are the certain religious practices are followed since ages.It is important that the idol of Kundurumotte Maariyamma has to be taken first during Utsav followed by other idols. All the idols had to be worshiped and taken in procession before it bifurcates in the city. The tradition followed even now.
